Towing- submerged objects



F. P. MAGOUN.

TOWiNG SUBMERGED 0BJECTS,. SUCH AS SUBMARINE TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 191B.

1 ,395 ,924. Patented Nov. 1, 192 1.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

F. MAGOUN.

TOWING SU BMERGED OBJECTS, SUCH AS SUBMARINE TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a, 1918.

1 95,924. Patented. Nov. 1, 1921.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I I Q 'J lw/varfiowr "j mng lg j flzgozwq 7 5 kfiowmqs PATENT OFFlfiE- FRANoI'sPE'AnoDY' lvraeoulv,v or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

'rowme SUBMERGE Ij" OBJECTS, SUCH AS SUBMARINE ToRrEDoEs';

T all 'wlwm it may coneerm: V

e it kn'own that I; FRANCIS PEA-Bony .MA.'-

court; a"citizen"i of. the United States of" America, and'resident'of' Cambridge, in the county-ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, h'aveinvented new and useful Improvements in' Towing Submerged Obj ects L such a's Submarine -Torpedoe's; of which thefollowing is a speci'fibationn This invention relates to means for' tow ing submerged a objects, as well as to meansfor'regulatingthe depth of submergence of and' m'eans' for reducing-irregular motion of the towed object, and for eliminating un duestrain on the towline;

For certain u"ses' su'ch as for the patent-- logs- 0f ships or for someclasses offishery and 'ofsounding operations; it is desirable to provide mean's reacting against the draft of the ship or boat on the tow line tosubmerge' the object towed at a: relatively constant, predeterminedor regulated depth. The in"- vention' relates to suchmeans which shall als'o be adaptechfor'thespecific'pu'rp'ose of' finding and destroying submerged objects' such assubmarine boats and mines; and for this-I providefor -towing a torpedo or ex plosive chargeadapted to be exploded upon contact" of the torpedo or its firing devices with the submerged object. For'each of the suggested uses it isimportant thatthe submergence of the towed object be=relatively great "in degree and be maintained relatively constant with respectto thespeed of'the towing ship and the lengthofthe tow line, and be adapted to be regulated by changlng'the speed of progress or by change of'otli'ercon trollable factors.

Principal objects of my invention are "toprovide means for towing a submerged ob jectat'a relatively constant depth"; to provide in connection with means for towmga submerged object means'adapted'to direct and regulate the depth of submergence of the object bein'g towed, to obtain quiet and regular forward movement of the "towed object, and to provide devices adapted to tow an'explosive or torp'edoina positionto over haul and be exploded by contact-with a submerged body. Other objects of the-invention-areto pro'vide a torpedo adaptedtobe towed-behind a'nd'below the line 'ofpassage Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921 Aiipliati'on' filed' Febiuary 28; 1918. serial m5; 219,617:

of a towing vesselyas"well as topro'vide a" torpedo and sensitlve firing means therefor suitable *for the above and other uses; v

In the; accompanying drawings" illustrat ngece'rtaln species only 1nvention',

Figure" 1 is an elevation-illustrating a" towing vessel, tow-line; torpedo and depth andjmotlon regulating device Fig; 21s 'a plan view of the devices shown in Fig. 1;

Fig-"3 is a" front elevation of a water kite FighT-isa vertical longitudinal section" through the hea'd of'the torpedo; v

Fig: 8s 1s ai'vertical section through a kite ofmodified form;

Fig; ;'and

Fig." is a diagram illustrating certain forces jactlng on the kite.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and2, a vessel'l of'an'y'suitable type is provided with any suitable tow-line'capstan 2 and means 3 for operating it, and is preferably provided vvitlr an" overhung spar 4 carrying a sheave" 5 arou nd which the tow-line 6 is guided: Preferably thetow-line is a piano wire or' small-diameter wire cable for great strength comparablewith its resistance to lateral motion in thewat'er.

Itlis proposed to'cause an object attached" to-th'e tow-line 6 to follow the vessel at a regulated depth. F orthe purposes of this description aspecific form of the invention relating to towage'of an explosive torpedoadapted' to encounter and destroy a submerged object such as a submarineboat or mine,- has been selected for illustration. Such'a'torpedo is shown at 10 (Fig. l) and Will'b'e referred to more in' detail-below.

Forthe purpose of maintaining thetow' line-6 at a relatively constant angle to the vessel 1' against the stress of its load tending to" stretch the'tow line in a direction more nearly horizontal, a device for placing the towline under a draggin'g'strain' andof "the genus of my head, the towing-bridle" F g-dais a detail section on line 9 90f' 6 is inadequate for the desired purpose, as

I have determined by experiment with numerous 'forms of fixed, movable, symmetrical and asymmetrical objects attached to the ends of the tow line, and intended either by their form or by their weight t sink the end of the tow line. The stress at the end of the tow line tending to lift the end toward the surface of the water increases very rapidly with the angle to the horizontal of the taut.

tow line and the speed, so that great weight and length of-line are required for deep submergence. Extraordinary divagations from the desired position. are observed when an object is so towed at speeds effective for the purpose, for instance, of overtaking and destroying an enemy ubmarine.

I ascribe these movements to little understood conditions of eddy currents and other lateral and vertical disturbances in the water due to the motion of the ship, as well as to the inherent difiiculty of providing a selfsteering object at the end of such a tow line which will have the necessary directive power to meet the large forces tending to overturn it, or displace it laterally or vertically, or rotate it. I now regard it as impossible to maintain a constant forward path at an obsolutely constant depth of submergence of any such weight or resisting object at the end of such a tow line. But I have devised, and will now describe a device adapted for the purpose of submerging the 1 useful load to and attaining relativelylittle movement away from the desired constant depth. and lateral position of the useful load, the device being capable powerfully to correct departure from the designed submergence and the designed lateral position-of the useful load by exercising suflicient influence upon the position and angle of the tow line to enable the device to correct the disturbances due to the tendencies to depart from the desired path of the torpedo 10 or other object being towed.

Assuming then as the function of the devicethe maintenance of the point. 12 (Fig. 1) at a relatively constant angle to the vessel 1, so that the slope of the'tow line 6 is relatively steep, in order to submerge the torpedo 10 to any desired depth, for instance from 25 to 100 feet or more, with a practically short length of tow line (for instance from 150 to 400 feet) -I provide a kite 15, broadly characterized by self-positioning surface adapted to maintain the tow line at a relatively constant angle, and joined to the tow line with freedom of motion to perform movements of correction; and I have found this device in practice to accomplish the desired purpose.

One preferred form of kite 15 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, 4: and 5, comprising two separated cells 16 and 17 rigidly joined together as by being riveted to longitudinal frame members 18 adapted to receive at a point 19 between the. cells 16 and 17 a free pivotal connection to a" bridle 20, in turn attached to the tow line. The point 19 may, a shown be a hole for shouldered rivets 21, 21, (Fig, 2) in holes in the bridle 20, which may comprise convergent steel straps pivoted at 22 to a swivel link 23 of any desired construction, and preferably in turn linked by chain links 2 1 to a towing frame 25 for the torpedo 10.

The joint, 22, 23, 24, is a universal joint enabling any position of the device 15 with respect to the line 6, and also enabling rotation on the axis of the line 6 without re sistance.

Preferably the cells 16, 17, are open tubes or boxes, as shown, having surfaces lying parallel to the longitudinal direction of the members 18. The forward cell 16 is nearer to the pivot 19 than'the rear cell 17. Preferably, but not essentially, the forward cell 16 is larger in one dimension than the rear cell 17 As shown, and by a preferred construction, the lower part of the surfaces of the cells 16,17 are cylindrical, but the lower surface of cell 16 is displaced farther from its upper element 30 than the lower surface of cell 17 is displaced from its upper element 31. The arrangement is such that the members 18 tend to rotate clockwise as shown in Fig. 5, about the point 19 as a center, so that the cell 17 tends to rise and the cell 16 to move downwardly from the position shown. This may be accomplished by any desired means, such as a sprmg surrounding the pivots 21, but for simplicity and effectiveness I prefer to overweight in any convenient manner the forward cell 16. For instance, the upper flat part 30 of the surface 16 may be supplemented by a lead weight 33, preferably of the stream-line cross-section shown in Fig. 5, which weight may be attached by rivets or screws or, as shown, by being east through countersunk holes 84 (Fig. 4). If desired, the whole of cell 16 may be of thicker or heavier material, and a preferred construction comprises a cast forward cell 35. having stream-line cross-sections at all parts of the cell, as

shown in Fig. 8.

To increasethe lateral directive power of the device I prefer to provide in connection with the rear cell 17 a vertical vane 37 (Fig.

3). The members 18 and cells'16 and '17 may be made of sheet steel or brass.

The operation of the kite 15 will now be apparent. Because the forward cell 16 is overweighted as described, the tendency is toposition all of the vertically directive surfacespointing down'by the head, so as to submerge the outer end of the tow linedeeper and deeper, until the directive power of the kite is overcome by the upward strain on line 6. This tendency counter-balances the tendency of the water acting on the surfaces of the cell or vane 17 farther from the pivotal axis 19 to aline the kite with the direction of progress, except at speeds of progress exceeding the normal rate, when the overweighted forward surface is overbalanced and tipped upward.

Referring to Fig. 10, a relatively constant component of force in direction 1", compounded of the resistance of kite 15 and load 10 'to IIlOtlOlilIl direction a, is effective as a variable upward resultant mu, if, at the point 19, this upward resultant varying as a function of the vertical angle of the line 6 and of the speed in direction a. Component u, u, a is opposed to the relatively constant steering power of the inclined kite 15 acting in direction (Z, and the kite and load remain at a depth at which a and 0? balance.

Disturbance of the water and darting tendencies of either kite or load are taken care ofby the rotative freedom of kite 15 at joint 22', 23, 24, and pivots 21. Because of the freedom of the joint 22, 23, 24, any lateral divergence of the load 10 is met by the lateral tipping in that direction of bridle 20 and the kite, by which a part of the directing force of the kite is exerted to restore to normalthe path of the load 10. Th'evertical angle of the kite, while constantly shifting in response to the local currents; oscillates about a mean position steering the kite and load downward with the relatively constant force (Z. The action of the device is an inversion of that of the well-known box kite, with the exception that an overweighted forward cell, instead of the overweighted rear cell as in the air kite, is provided to meet the now opposite relationship'of gravity to the lifting (submerging) action of the kite. I

Since the downward slope of the directive surfaces is self-adjusting. being a function of the resistance of the water at the speed of progress attained, and of the area and distance from the point 19 of the rear cell, as opposed to the area and constant weight of'the forward cell; and since the position in space of the kite 15 is free, the kite dis closed is effective to operate without the violent lateral oscillationscharacteristic of towed kites of other forms. In practice the depth for which the device is set by the length of line 6, by the position of the point 19, the weight 33 and the speed, is attained without delay and held without substantial change, provided the speed of the'towing vessel is constant. 7

It is desirable that the object 10 should have universal freedom of motion with resmaller ring 45 attached to the head of the torpedo 10. The frame 25 may be jointed by chain-links 46 and a swivel joint 47 to a coupling 48 containing a round fiber or raw-hide washer around which the end of the wire 6 is passed and lashed at 49.

A preferred form of torpedo 10 found by experience to be adapted to be'quietly towed in the desired horizontal position by the remaining devices, is shown. Referring to Fig. 1, this may comprise as a container for the explosive charge an elongate tubular body 50, having an integral, or an attached false, stream-like tail 70 which may be of wood or sheet metal, and adapted to lengthen the extent of the torpedo behind pivot 12, and so to aid in maintaining the head of the torpedo directedforward in respect to the motion of towing. The sheet metal body 50 is preferably seated in a groove of a cast head 51 to which ring 45 is attached near the forward end in any suitable manner. The head 51 may be provided with a series of firing pins 52 held outwardly in nipples 53 by springs 54and away from the percussion primers 55. On the axis of the torpedo a strong guide pin 56 may be provided loosely to enter a bore 57 in nose 68 of a safety cap 58, which as shown may be a cruciform shield covering the pins 52, said cap having its vertical arms 59 preferably flared outwardly as shown.

The cap 58 is maintained away from the firing pins 52 by plate springs 60 and if desired by a spiral spring 61 surrounding the pin 56. Cap 58 is retained in place but permitted to slide backwardly to contact with the firing pins 52 by a sliding joint at 56, 57, and elsewhere with the head 51. Preferably, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, this joint has a part on each horizontal arm 62 of the head 58, comprising an enlarged slot 63 having a smaller entrance 64 adapted to be passed over a flattened shoulder of a screw 65 on each side of the head, the screw then being turned to lock onthe cap 58 without limiting its freedom for rearward movement. For safety, the nose 68 may carry a removable screw stop 66.screwed into a tapped hole 67 and adapted to take against pin 56 and prevent contact of cap 58 with pins 52. The stop 66 is removed before use.

In use the torpedo 10, of which the part 50 is filled with a high explosive [the forward end of the head 51 being filled with a detonating powder if desired], may be stored with the firing pins 52 and cap 58 removed. When and as needed for use the pins 52 are inserted, and the cap 58 placed in position and locked in position by turning the screws (35. This may be very quickly done. A very light blow anywhere on the cap 58 even such as occasioned by a piece of heavy cordage or wire running down the tow line 6 or striking one of the bent arms 59, is sufiicient to drive in one or more of the firing pins and explode the torpedo.

The cap 58 and firing pins, it will be observed, can be placed, or the stop 66 be removed, for safety, after the torpedo is connected to the towing frame and suspended overboard. 1

It will be observed that the head 51 of the torpedo is relatively heavy. In case of a parted tow line or loss overboard, this insures sinking of the torpedo head down, and its explosion on striking the bottom. As an anti-submarine weapon, the heavy head 51 is reliable to cause penetration of a thick metal hull by explosion of a comparatively light charge of high explosive behind it.

What I claim is:

1. Means for towing a submerged object at a substantially predetermined depth comprising a tow line, directing means having surfaces capable of assuming new positions in respect to the object in response to variable forces acting upon said means and means for attaching the directing means to the tow line with freedom of motion to perform its movements of correction, wherey to maintain the object submerged at a predetermined depth with substantial freedom from vertical and lateral oscillation.

2. Means for towing a submerged object at a substantially predetermined depth comprising a tow line, means for attaching the object to the tow line, and a kite and means for correcting the position of the kite in respect to the object and in response to variable forces acting upon said object, said kite being attached to the tow line and adapted to steer the tow line and object downwardly to a substantially predetermined depth.

3. Means for towing a submerged object having therein a tow line and directing means therefor comprising devices for'automatically changing the relative position of the said means to cause deeper submergence of said tow line and directing means at any angle to the horizontal of said tow line less than a predetermined angle, and to resist lateral divergence of the towed object, whereby substantially to maintain a predetermined depth of the towed object.

4. Means for towing a submerged object having therein a. tow line and directing means therefor adapted automatically to vary its position in respect to the tow line to cause deeper submergence of said tow line and directing means upon lessening of the forces acting upwardly on said tow line and directing means, whereby to maintain said object at substantially a predetermined depth.

5. Means for towing a submerged object having therein a tow line and a kite comprising self-positioning surfaces attached to the end of the tow line adapted automatically to cause deeper submergence of said tow line upon lessening of the forces acting upwardly on said tow line and kite, whereby to maintain a point on said line at which the object is attached at substantially a predetermined depth.

6. Directing means for towing a submerged object having therein a tow-line and means acting automatically to vary the position in respect to the tow line of said directing means, whereby to cause deeper submergence of said object upon lessening of the forces acting horizontally on said tow line, directing means, and object.

7. Means for towing a submerged object at a substantially predetermined depth comprising a tow line, means for attaching the object to the tow line, a kite adapted to steer the object downwardly to a substantially predetermined extent, and means for attaching the kite to the object permitting freedom of movement of the kite in every direction, the kite having therein means constantly tending to position it in respect to its attachments with a predetermined force.

8. Means for towing a submerged object at a substantially predetermined depth comprising a tow line, means permitting freedom of movement in every direction for attaching the object to the tow line, and akite including positioning means therefor adapted to relatively move the kite to steer the object downwardly to a substantially predetermined extent.

9. Means for towin a submerged object at a substantially pre etermined depth comprising a tow line, means permitting freedom of movement in every direction including rotation in a constant direction for attaching the object to the tow line, a kite adapted to steer the object downwardly to a substantially predetermined extent, and means for attaching the kite to the tow line permitting freedom of movement in every direction.

10. A kite device adapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed by said tow line havingtherein connected forward and rear surfaces, a pivotal connection to the towed object from a point between said surfaces, one of said surfaces tending to overbalance the other by reaction with the water so as to tend to approach alinement with the direction of progress, and means tending to turn the kite about said pivotal connection in the opposite direction.

11. A-kite device adapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed by said tow line having therein connected forward and rear surfaces, a pivotal connection to the towed object from a point between said surfaces, the said rear surfaces tending to overbalance the said forward surfaces by reaction with the water so as to tend to approach alinement with the direction of progress, and means tending to turn the kite about said pivotal connection in the opposite direction.

12. A kite device adapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed by said tow line having therein connected forward and rear surfaces, a pivotal connection to the towed object from a point between said surfaces, the said rear surfaces tending to overbalance the said forward surfaces by reaction with the water so as to tend to approach alinement with the direction of progress, and means acting with a constant predetermined force tending to turn the kite about said pivotal connection in the opposite direction.

13. A kite device adapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed by said tow line having therein connected forward and rear surfaces, a pivotal connection to the towed object from a point between said surfaces, and nearer to said forward surfaces, whereby the reaction of the water tends to aline the kite with the direction of progress by turning said surfaces on said pivotal connection, in combination with gravity actuated means for turning the kite on said pivotal connection in the opposite direction with a constant force.

14. A kite deviceadapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed by said tow line having therein connected parts having longitudinally-extending surfaces, and a connection to the towed object to which said kite is pivoted at a point nearer one part than the other, the nearer part being the heavier.

15. A kite device adapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed by said tow line having'therein rigidly connected cells having longitudinally-extending surfaces, and

a connection to the towed object to which said kite is pivoted at a point nearer one cell than the other, the nearer cell being larger and heavier than the other.

16. A kite device adapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed thereby having therein arigid frame, forward and rear open tubular cells rigid with said frame, the forward cell being the heavier, one of said cells having a vertical wall or vane, in combination with a bridle pivoted to the frame nearer to the-forward than-to the rear cell, and adapted to be conne cted to. the :object to be submerged by towing.

17. A steering kite for directing a towed object having therein a rear surface and a weighted forward surface, the weighted portion being of stream-line cross-section.

18. Directing means adapted to submerge a tow line and an object towed thereby comprising a steering kite, a bridle to which said kite is pivoted, and a universal joint adapted to connect said bridle with the object to be submerged.

19. Means for towing and directing a submarine explosive charge having therein a tow line, an open frame connected to said tow line, a kite device adapted to steer the frame and tow line, a bridle to which said kite is pivoted, a universal joint adapted to connect said bridle and towing frame, and means for suspending an explosive charge from said frame.

20. Means for towing and directing a submarine explosive charge comprising a tow line, a container for the explosive charge, and an open towing frame in which said container is adapted to be carried so as to present a contact surface ahead of frame and tow line, in combination with means adapted to cause submergence of the towing frame and charge to a predetermined extent.

21. Means for towing a submarine explosive charge comprising a tow line, a container for the explosive charge, an open towing frame within which the container is adapted to be attached for universal movement, and means adapted to cause submergence of and to direct the towing frame.

22. Towing means for submarine explosive charges comprising a towing frame, a gimbal ring pivoted thereto, means pivoted on another axis within said gimbal ring, and means for attaching said last mentioned means to said explosive charge.

23. A torpedo adapted to be towed com prising a body, a towing connection comprising a universal joint connected to said body near its forward end, and contact firing means forward of said joint.

24. A torpedo adapted to be towed comprising an elongate body, a towing connection comprising a gimbal ring pivoted on said body near its forward end, and contact firing means forward of said gimbal ring.

25. A torpedo adapted to be towed comprising a body and head, a cap adapted to slide on the body, and percussion firing means adapted to be fired when the cap is moved on the head.

26. A torpedo adapted to be towed com- 

